Tablets: How Would You Solve the Input Problem?
by Anand Lal Shimpi on March 29, 2011 2:22 PM EST- Posted in
- Tablets
- Apple
- iPad 2
- Ask AnandTech
- Mobile
In our iPad 2 review I mentioned that despite really liking the device, I never really could integrate the original iPad into my daily life in a meaningful way. I always ended up traveling with the iPad and a notebook or while around town I just kept a smartphone on me. That limited my iPad use to pretty much lounging around at the house, and even then I found myself turning to the laptop more often than not.
With the Xoom and iPad 2 I've been giving the tablet usage model another try. I've kept my usage mostly consumption focused. Browsing the web and reading emails. I really do prefer using a tablet for both of these things. I do wish the iPad 2 was faster when selecting lots of emails but the improvement over the original iPad is still considerable.
My holdup is this: while I love reading on the iPad 2, I have troubles contributing using it. Writing lengthy email responses or even posting comments on AT is just slower on the iPad than on a notebook. The solution can't be to just walk over to a laptop when I want to respond and just use the iPad when I'm reading - that seems horrible inefficient.
I could use a Bluetooth keyboard but that's also rather clunky. I feel like there has to be a better solution going forward, particularly as the tablet market grows. Is it voice? Or some sort of an integrated kickstand with more flexibility than what you get with the smart cover?
I feel like smartphones get a pass because it's easy to type on them regardless of where you're sitting. Tablets on the other hand need to be propped up against something and as a result are harder to type on in certain situations. They work fine on a desk but if I'm at a desk I'd rather use a notebook. What about when laying back on a couch?
I'm curious what you all think about this. Am I alone in finding tablet ergonomics a barrier? If not, what do you believe is the best solution for tablets going forward. I want to read and respond on a tablet as quickly as I can on a notebook. What needs to be built? Post your comments here and I'm sure we can get many of the tablet manufacturers to pay attention. I don't think they have stumbled across the best solution for this problem either, so what you say here might go a long way in making tablets better for everyone.
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simplemime - Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - link
Left____Right____Inputpad____pad
_↑_______0______ 1
_↑_______↑______ 2
_→______↖______ 3
_0_______↓______ 4
_↖_______↓______5
....
relentlessfocus - Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - link
oops, screwed up the URLs on my post below. apologies!Here's the dictation software on an iPad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJs5L2RT8GE
Here's the shorthand on a tablet video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inTf7SM0zaM
relentlessfocus - Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - link
ok one more time: speech recognition on an iPad http://youtu.be/TJs5L2RT8GEmushu - Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - link
Re. the remark about bluetooth keyboards or switching to a regular keyboard-equipped device being ineffective... I'd argue that it's far more effective to do so when it comes to writing lengthy texts! That way, you separate leisurely "content-consumption" in the couch from more focused "production" in your workspace. I imagine there are cognitive benefits, benefits wrt sleep hygiene, wrt physical health (let's face it, we spend enough time prone in our couches as it is...).With that out of the way...
1. Several posters deride "content consumption", for which tablets are ideal.
However, as one poster points out, content-consumption can be more than watching youtube clips of dogs pooping on babies. Since getting my Nook color I've used it for my studies as much as for anything else--not just for reading reading PDFs and online sources but also eg. for clipping info from various sources to compile better notes, for creating quick mindmaps, etc.
2. I find it relatively easy to type out short-to-medium length texts on the Nook, using thumb keyboard in portrait mode. The Nook hasn't a chance in hell of emulating typing on a notebook, so I may as well go all the way and let it play to its strengths: I find it far more comfortable to thumb out messages on the Nook than to type on a notebook while lying prone in bed.
3. Voice recognition software is cool, but I'm not titillated by the thought of everyone around me hearing what I'm up to.
4. Rather, I think I might prefer an elegant input solution that can also learn from everything I've ever written. SwiftKey does a surprisingly good job on my phone, even with the limited number of predictions and the simultaneous use of two languages. I imagine it might be even better on a tablet and with access to all my mails and posts.
5. Swype/SlideIt on tablets, perhaps with the keys to one side, maybe in an alternative layout (eg. a long column with three keys in each row), with keys eg. on the right and predictions on the left hand side.
6. Foldable bluetooth keyboard!
relentlessfocus - Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - link
And of course there's all kinds of business oriented content that some commentators seem oblivious to. Just to name a few: Big time sport coaches are using them, television presenters are using them (Jake Humphreys presenting Formula 1 on BBC for example), doctors are using them when doing rounds with quick access to patient records, xrays, etc, estate agents use them in working with clients, they're used in schools in many different ways and levels, sales people have their product catalogues on them, executives use them to access corporate databases (eg salesforce.com), they're used to display retail catalogues in shops like All Saints, they're used in restaurant booking, they're used by lawyers and paralegals for keeping case notes and looking up documents and contract info stored in databases, they're used in presentations (attached to a tellie by airplay or hardwire) or to a projector and scores of other applications.Anyone who thinks that they're toys and useless beyond watching youtube and other frivoloties doesn't really realise the extent that they're being used in the business and scientific world.
dwalton - Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - link
I once felt that a tablet with a smartphone OS was a useless device. Until my wife bought me an ipad and I discovered the utility of such devices. Simply put... its a toy. A pretty great toy but a toy nevertheless.Its by no means a competent laptop replacement and the ipad doesn't try to be on any real level. If you want to watch a movie on the couch but don't have access to your TV, play a game to waste some time, facebook or read news then the ipad or an Android based tablet is a good device. But in terms of moderate to heavy production thats typically done by most people on a laptop, a tablet is relatively worthless as a device.
I once remoted into my labtop from my bed to do so a small task which entailed emailing a colleague a list off a website, some pics and a description of work needed and I turn what should of taken 5 minutes into 20 minutes of wasteful effort.
The touch screen keyboard is for simple task such as typing in an url or a really short email messages but I wouldn't write anything of length. Yeah, you could go buy a bunch of accessories like a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to strengthen its capability. But, why? If you're pimping out an ipad with wireless accessories because production is a priority then I think you need to put your priorities in order. You are simply trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. A laptop is way more capable as an entertainment device than an ipad is a production device. Because of that, the laptop should always win out when its a either/or question.
Trying to replace a labtop with an ipad is like trying to replace a pair of dress shoes with a pair of shell toe adidas.
dwalton - Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - link
In short, if you find yourself on a ipad or similar device doing something that can be done more efficiently on a laptop. Go get your laptop, if being efficient matters.sean.crees - Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - link
Anand i have read all of your Tablet reviews, and i keep getting the same impression from you every time. Your usage model is unique. Most people i know don't need to type up a word document on a daily basis. Maybe if your in college, but otherwise people don't hardly ever type except for short text messeges on their cell phone.So for most, the lack of a physical keyboard, while uncomfortable at first, isn't really all that important. And the more you do it, the more you get used to it, and the less it bothers you.
A notebook is very clunky to move around with while its open. You can't really walk around with it. It's portable, but you need to sit to use it, preferably with a desk or table to be really comfortable.
A tablet you can walk around with, hand off to other people easily, share with people around you easily. The wide viewing angles on the iPad really help with this. It just feels more personall. You argue that its just a bulky cell phone, but most people can't stand doing much of anything other than texting and calling on their cell phone. The screen is just too small to do anything online. It's nice to have when there is nothing else, but it is far from your prefered go to internet device.
It's a lot like the relationship between laptops and desktops. If you could, a desktop would always be prefered, but it's not always available because its not portable. The same between cell phone and tablet. You'd prefer the big screen of the tablet, but when in a pinch, a cell phone works.
Your biggest complaint i see you post about tablets is their too bulky too carry around. The same can be said of a notebook. It replaces the notebook, and while it may not be good enough for your unique usage model, it is for most people. My friends carry their tablet in the same way you carry your notebook.
When all you need is to surf the web, check email, and chat online, and watch video's a tablet is the perfect device.
rfle500 - Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - link
Actually I have to disagree with your comment that Anand's usage model is unique. I work as a scientist in academia and may typical daily use involves some research (looking at papers), answering 20-30 emails/day, writing papers and computer programming. So essentially 10% content consumption and 90% content creation.The last item is the real killer at the moment - if I can't program on the thing then it can't replace my notebook. To be honest the wireless bluetooth keyboard (and trackpad) are portable enough to work as input devices, and as other people have said I don't think there is going to be a better replacement any time soon - can you imagine trying to write a computer program with voice recognition - or even typing in loads of semi-colons with the touch keyboard - yuck!??
Personally I think the main requirements for tablets to replace notebooks is the ability to switch from a touch OS to a desktop OS seamlessly, while the content (your files, documents etc) stays the same. That way you get the best of both worlds - touch screen for web browsing and sharing documents, and task switching, copy and paste etc for content creation. The other big requirement here is more storage space, by an order of magnitude.
If and when that becomes possible, then tablets could probably replace laptops.
sean.crees - Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - link
And you believe you and Anands usage model is the norm?Out of the 2 dozen people i know that use a computer of some sorts on a daily basis, i don't know a single one of them that types more than a few fragmented texts at a time. Maybe a paper for school once a month.
Tablets replace laptops for average consumers. You and Anand are not average, your unique.